Canada: The Cement Association of Canada (CAC) held a press conference on 12 December 2013 to demand that the changes proposed for the next edition of the National Building Code of Canada (NBCC) be significantly improved to provide better safety for all Canadians. One such change would increase the maximum wood building height to six storeys from the current limit of four.

The CAC contends that the construction of five and six storey wood frame buildings could present many safety concerns for Canadians. "If these taller wood frame buildings are included in the Code, Canada could see an increase in fires and put vulnerable Canadians at risk," said Michael McSweeney, president and CEO of the CAC.

The current proposal has many deficiencies, and the CAC strongly recommends that a number of additional provisions be implemented. These include non-combustible stairwells and elevator shafts to provide fire-fighters with a safe refuge area from which to stage their fire-fighting and rescue operations and residents with a safe place to go so they can be rescued; non-combustible cladding and non-combustible roofing which is fundamental to preventing a fire from spreading to adjacent buildings. Additionally, non-combustible two-hour firewalls should be mandated on these buildings along with the installation of sprinkler protection during the construction phase. Finally, the CAC believes that the protection of the lives of fire-fighters should be included in the NBCC.

"The proposed changes have potentially life and death implications," said Carl Pearson, a First Captain with the Thorold Fire and Emergency Services and the Past President of the Fire Fighters' Association of Ontario. "For fire-fighters, our number one concern is to safely rescue people, without casualties. If these proposed changes to the NBCC are implemented, Canadians lives could be at risk. We don't want that to happen."